A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Begnis, Giuseppe

BEGNIS, Giuseppe de, born at Lugo, in the Papal States, 1793, sang soprano in the chapel at Lugo till he was nearly fifteen, when his voice broke. Thinking it would never return, and having a strong taste for comedy, he took lessons of Mandini, a celebrated Italian actor; but, his father being opposed to this course, he began to study music again under Saraceni the composer, the brother of Madame Morandi. He made his first operatic appearance in the carnival of 1813 as primo buffo in Pavesi's 'Marco Antonio' at Modena, and was most successful. He next went to Forli and Rimini, and returned to Modena. In the following carnival he sang at Siena, at the opening of the new Teatro degli Academici Rozzi, as Pazzo in Paer's 'Agnese,' and as Selim in the 'Turco in Italia ' of Rossini, and was enthusiastically applauded in both. He next appeared at Ferrara, Badia, and Trieste. In the carnival of 1815 he was at Cesena, and particularly brilliant in Fioravanti's 'Bello piace a tutti,' in which he imitated with his falsetto the celebrated Pacchierotti. He now sang at various theatres until the carnival of 1816, at Milan, where he was laid up for three months, and unable to sing. On his recovery he proceeded to Parma, where his success was more brilliant than ever; then to Modena and Bologna. Here he played successfully in Paer's 'Agnese,' which had been tried twice before there without success. The piece was chosen for the benefit of Signora Ronzi, who was engaged there. Shortly after, she was married to De Begnis, who was admitted to the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna at the same time. They were, however, separated for a time, De Begnis being engaged to sing at Rome, and Ronzi at Genoa. They met again at Florence, 1817, and performed together at Vicenza and Verona. Rossini engaged them for the opening of the new theatre at Pesaro. In 1819 they made their débuts at Paris with great success; and in 1822 appeared in London in the 'Turco in Italia,' where he was considered an excellent comic actor and singer. In 1823 he had the direction, with his wife, of the operas at Bath; and he was again engaged for the operatic season of 1824. He died Aug. 1849.

[ J. M. ]